Paris: Thousands of passengers across France and the United Kingdom faced major travel disruptions on Friday after a World War II bomb was discovered near the tracks leading to Paris’ Gare du Nord station.
The unexploded ordnance, found during construction work in the Seine-Saint-Denis region around 4 a.m. (03:00 GMT), brought Eurostar and other train services to a standstill.
Eurostar, the high-speed train operator connecting Paris, London, Brussels, and Amsterdam, announced the suspension of all services to and from the French capital. France’s national rail operator, SNCF, confirmed that train operations would remain halted until French police completed mine clearance procedures.
Gare du Nord, one of Europe’s busiest rail hubs, typically sees 700,000 passengers daily. It serves international routes to destinations such as London and Brussels, as well as local and regional transit networks, including Paris’ main airport connections.
The disruption quickly rippled beyond France, affecting travel plans across Europe.
While wartime explosives are still occasionally unearthed across France, finding one in such a crowded transit hub is rare. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot warned that the disruption was expected to last at least through the day.
Authorities continue to work on safely removing the ordnance, but until then, passengers remain stranded, awaiting updates on when normal rail services will resume.
